Takere听is a unique, live-in academy for first-year students at Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 九州影院 (UC). This year, 47 M膩ori and Pacific students have spent the last five weeks learning study skills and building networks with peers and staff that will help them navigate their journey into tertiary life at UC.
Takere scholarship recipients from left to right, Heath Heather (Rarotongan), Taumanu Walker (Wh膩nau-膩-Apanui; Whakat艒hea, Ng膩i T奴hoe), Manawa Whaanga, (Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩 Puhi, Ng膩ti Kahungunu), Sophia Clarke-Walker, (Ng膩i Tahu).
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - Quality education
The students, who can apply for subsidised accommodation for the year in the Tupu膩nuku hall of residence, have attended workshops, completed a 15-point 100-level UC course and have been on haerenga (field trips).听These included visiting sites of significance to Ng膩i T奴膩huriri /Ng膩i Tahu and learning about the history of the takiw膩 (region).
Sophia Clarke-Walker, (Ng膩i Tahu), 18, who grew up in 艑tautahi Christchurch, was planning to study outside the city before discovering Takere. 鈥淎fter 18 years I thought it was time to leave, but this programme inspired me to stay.鈥
鈥淭wo past students of Takere spoke at my school, Te P膩 o R膩kaihaut奴, and after hearing their stories I knew it was the right choice for me.
鈥淐oming from a small school I was nervous about coming to uni and being in a massive environment with new people, but I鈥檝e had so much support since I got here,鈥 she says.
鈥淚 was concerned university would be too westernised but it鈥檚 really nice to see UC is slowly implementing more m膩tauranga M膩ori because it鈥檚 such a huge part of New 九州影院in general.鈥
Sophia, who won the Korimako 鈥 Junior English award at last year鈥檚 Ng膩 Manu K艒rero ki Waitaha speech competition, is planning to complete a double degree in Law and Arts.
Heath Heather (Rarotongan), 19, will start his Commerce degree this year, and says the Takere environment has helped him settle into Christchurch. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good way to meet new people, especially for me coming from Auckland鈥n Auckland I didn鈥檛 hear many languages other than English.
鈥淚n Takere we get to be open and feel pride in our culture, we鈥檙e encouraged to express it. Hearing M膩ori, Samoan, Fijian and Tongan being spoken is so cool.鈥
Taumanu Walker (Wh膩nau-膩-Apanui; Whakat艒hea, Ng膩i T奴hoe) 18, went to a kura kaupapa M膩ori school until Year 8, and later Rotorua Boys鈥 High School where he was the 2022 Young Achiever for Leadership and Academic Excellence. He plans to study Forestry Science at UC. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here if it wasn鈥檛 for the Takere scholarship, finances were my biggest barrier to studying,鈥 he says.
鈥淛ust knowing everyone here gives you that sense of comfort, especially for me being away from home.鈥
Manawa Whaanga, (Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩 Puhi, Ng膩ti Kahungunu) 18, who will study Engineering, has always been encouraged by her parents to go to university.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe I got the Takere scholarship, it was so exciting. It鈥檚 hard being away from my family but Takere has helped me integrate easily and build strong connections. It鈥檚 also helped me reconnect with the South Island and my M膩ori culture, I didn鈥檛 know much te reo before. "
Verity Tamepo (Ng膩ti Porou, Ng膩ti Mutunga) Kaiarataki Takere | Takere Lead says whakawhanaungatanga (making meaningful connections) as part of a cohort with other M膩ori and Pacific students is an important aspect of the programme. 鈥淧reparing these students as best we can academically for tertiary study, introducing them to networks of support within UC, providing them with tools, connections and wrap-around support to set them up for success is key to the kaupapa鈥.
Takere is in its third year at UC, and the first stage of the academy ended last Friday with a celebration ceremony and h膩kari (feast) that the students鈥 wh膩nau and caregivers were able to attend.
Ongoing support, mentoring, and workshops will be provided to the students throughout the academic year.
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